Online MAGA cope is now Congressional strategy
When it comes to defending Donald Trump from the worst accusations, the MAGA influencer-industrial complex, whether out of loyalty or self-preservation, often defaults to whataboutism, arguing that the Democrats are…
The Drifter is a good old-fashioned thriller
Point-and-click adventure games often tell silly, lighthearted stories. For me, the mishaps of the pirate Guybrush Threepwood in the Monkey Island series come to mind. The nature of the genre…
OnePlus Nord 5 review: selfie-centric midranger
The OnePlus Nord 5 does exactly what the company’s Nord phones have always done: deliver strong specs at a relatively low price. It’s one of the more powerful phones at…
Inside the struggle to create a cozy Lord of the Rings game
When new employees start at Weta Workshop, they’re herded into a meeting room with a long, unassuming conference table. On the walls, behind panes of glass and in between statues,…
GPD’s monster Strix Halo handheld requires a battery ‘backpack’ or a 180W charger
Yesterday, I mentioned how GPD is teasing the most potent handheld yet made — a GPD Win 5 that will house the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip, with AMD’s most…
DJI couldn’t confirm or deny it disguised this drone to evade a US ban
DJI barely sells drones in the United States anymore. The shelves are bare; resellers are jacking up prices. It appears an unofficial ban at US customs is to blame. But…
Google gets its swag back
This week, I take a look at the surprisingly strong state of Google, Meta gets a new chief AI researcher, and more. If you haven’t already, be sure to check…
Comcast’s fix for streaming service overload is in your cable box
Streaming has become a tangled web of subscriptions, and now Comcast says it can help by putting all your services into one hub. Comcast is launching a new hub on…
Breaking Bad creator’s new sci-fi show hits Apple in November
As promised, Apple has finally revealed Pluribus, a new show from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan that’s coming to Apple TV Plus. In addition to a very brief teaser involving…
Errors found in US judge’s withdrawn decision stink of AI
A US district court judge has withdrawn his decision in a biopharma securities case after lawyers noted that his opinion referenced fake quotes and other erroneous case information — mistakes…
Syncing desktops and better AI wallpapers are coming to ChromeOS
The improved AI wallpapers now let you prompt with anything you like. Google has released a new version of ChromeOS that allows you to sync desktops between devices, ideal for…
Paramount-Skydance merger approved after companies agree to government speech demands
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Skydance’s $8 billion purchase of CBS-owner Paramount after the companies agreed to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs but feature a “diversity…
Starlink’s satellite internet is back online after a massive outage
Starlink users reported they couldn’t connect to SpaceX’s satellite internet service for a few hours on Thursday afternoon before service was eventually restored. Widespread Starlink outages, like the ones we…
No, Instagram didn’t suspend Zohran Mamdani’s account for being ‘too socialist’
In a story published earlier this week, a site called “NYC Journals” claimed to have a bombshell: that Instagram had suspended the account of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani…
Anker Nebula X1 review: a terrific home theater that goes anywhere
The X1 projecting a 90-inch image on an outdoor terrace over Starlink. I seldom sleep in the same place for more than a couple of weeks at a time, so…
The tech that the US Post Office gave us
When you crack open your mailbox, it’s almost as if your letters just appear. Long before the days of speedy, overnight mail deliveries, postal service workers meticulously sorted through letters…
Here’s how to save on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 preorder
The forthcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung’s thinnest foldable yet. Our own Allison Johnson just published her full review ahead of the phone’s launch on July 25th, and while…
A mushroom casket marks a first for ‘green burials’ in the US
Loop Biotech’s “Living Cocoon” is a casket made from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. “I’m probably the only architect who created a final home,” Bob Hendrikx tells The Verge.…
Nothing Phone 3 review: flagship-ish
I sure hope you like asymmetry. Nothing says that the Phone 3 is its “first true flagship phone,” and it has put its money where its mouth is. The phone…
Roblox will require a facial scan or government ID to have unfiltered chats
Roblox is introducing a way to let trusted friends chat more freely among themselves, but it will require that they use a new age estimation tool to verify that they’re…
TikTok is putting the spotlight on songwriters
TikTok will now let songwriters highlight tracks they’ve written or co-written directly on their profiles. The list of songs will live within the “Music” tab on their profile, similar to…
Subnautica 2’s creators sue their publisher for ‘severely’ damaging the game’s release
The battle between Subnautica 2 publisher Krafton and the three former executives at its developer Unknown Worlds continues. Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — the three executives who…
Google is raising the price of Nest Aware subscriptions again
Starting in mid-August Google is raising the price of its Nest Aware subscriptions. | Image: Google Google is raising the price of its Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus subscriptions…
Elon Musk teases AI anime boyfriend based on Edward Cullen
This is obviously an anime Kylo Ren, but I guess Edward Cullen is the inspiration. | Image: xAI Days after introducing an AI ‘waifu’ companion for Grok, Elon Musk is…
The deluge of faster Qi2.2 wireless chargers is here
Anker is one of eight companies with Qi2.2 products already certified. Yesterday Ugreen was the first company to announce it had a Qi2.2 wireless charging power bank on the way,…
Now Microsoft’s Copilot Vision AI can scan everything on your screen
Microsoft is rolling out an update to Copilot Vision for Windows Insiders that lets the AI tool see everything that’s on your screen. Previously, the tool was able to look…
How to choose which Apple Watch to buy
It used to be easy to pick an Apple Watch. All you had to do was choose whether you wanted the larger model or the smaller one. Then Apple added…
To make Ironheart feel tactile, the show’s creative team had to get on the same page
In Disney Plus’ Ironheart series, a young genius with an uncanny knack for building armored suits finds herself plunged into a shady, criminal underworld that gives her a chance to…
Trump announces billions in investments to make Pennsylvania an AI hub
President Donald Trump announced more than $90 billion in investments from private companies that they said are tied to AI, tech, and energy during the “inaugural” Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation…
The EU is testing a prototype age verification app
The European Union is piloting a blueprint for age verification apps in Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy that aims to make it easier for online platforms to comply with…